IceHogs News

Rockford, Ill.- Rockford IceHogs defenseman Nick Leddy and forward Jeremy Morin were named to the 29-man preliminary roster for Team U.S.A for the upcoming IIHF World Junior Championships.

The 19-year-old rookies will participate in the U.S. National Team’s pre-tournament camp that opens Dec. 17 in Troy, N.Y. The roster will be trimmed down to 22 players in preparation for the upcoming World Junior Championships that will be held in Buffalo, N.Y.

Leddy, an Eden Prairie, Minn. native, has played in 18 games with the IceHogs in 2010-11 after beginning his first professional campaign with the Chicago Blackhawks. The defenseman has accounted for a pair of goals and seven assists in Rockford. With Chicago, the rookie blue-liner chipped in a goal in six games.

Acquired by the Blackhawks on Feb. 12, 2010 from the Minnesota Wild, Leddy spent last season at the University of Minnesota where he played in 30 games for the Golden Gophers and totaled 3g-8a-11pts. Leddy was Minnesota’s first-round draft pick (#16 overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

The invite to the World Junior Team is the second in as many years for Morin. Last season Morin was a member of Team U.S.A’s World Junior championship club and tied for fourth on the team with five assists in seven games during the tournament.

Morin has also split his first pro season between Rockford and Chicago. The Auburn, N.Y. native has appeared in 17 games in Rockford and is currently tied for the team lead with six goals. Overall, Morin has nine points to go along with 32 penalty minutes.

The rookie winger has received a pair of recalls to Chicago and in five games Morin has an assist with the Blackhawks. Morin was acquired in a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers on June 24, 2010. Last year, the winger ranked second on the Ontario Hockey League’s Kitchener Rangers with 47 goals and third with 83 points.

The U.S. National Team will open tournament play on Sunday, Dec. 26 at Buffalo’s HSBC Arena against the Finnish National Team at 7 p.m.

Leddy and Morin join IceHogs winger Brandon Pirri, who was named to Team Canada’s World Junior pre-tournament camp, as candidates to play in the tournament.

For complete rosters or for more information regarding the U.S. National Team and the World Junior Championships, visit www.usahockey.com.

Next Home Game: Wednesday, Dec. 8 vs. Texas Stars: Game time is slated for 6:35 p.m. Every Wednesday game at the MetroCentre is Taco Bell Dollar Days. Fans can enjoy dollar beers, hotdogs, sodas and companion tickets courtesy of Taco Bell, WXRX and Vienna Beef.